BURTON welcomed Broughton Astley to Towles Fields on Saturday and they managed to earn their first Senior League Premier Division double of the season in a vital relegation battle.

The hosts made a good start by winning the toss and asking Broughton to bat first. The openers, restricted at first by some very tight bowling from Lee Smith (1 for 32) and young Tom Shipman (0 for 23), opened their shoulders in the fourth over and commenced a period of fine stroke play scoring at a rate well over four an over.

It wasn’t until the 10th over when young Tom was replaced by wily dad John Shipman (2 for 25) before the first wicket fell with the score on 45. Broughton’s other opener, Blockley lasted a further two overs before he was forced to retire with a pulled muscle.

But still the run rate maintained a frantic pace until the 17th over when Lee earned his much deserved wicket before Broughton’s wheels fell off.

Although the next wicket did not fall for another 12 overs the batsmen only managed to add a further 16 runs during that stand.

This pattern continued until Steve Tingle (50 not out) and Simon Larke (30 not out) came together in the 38th over with the score on a modest 105 and accelerated the rate to bring Broughton home with 157 for 5 in their 45 overs.

Burton’s other bowlers, Rob Dunn (1 for 45) and Ali Love (1 for 28) both contributed to the team effort.

Burton’s opening batsmen Gary Moore (24) and Ali Love (39) ripped into the Broughton bowlers and found themselves with 73 on the board in the 12th over before Gary got a top edge that flew to cover.

Three balls later Ali hoisted on to mid-on for the same result. Paul Blount lasted two balls before Mike Simmons (12) and Ross Deabill steadied the ship and added 24 for the fourth wicket.

Ross (27 not out) was joined by Dave Freestone (24 not out) and the pair saw Burton safely home in the 43rd over for a convincing six wicket win.

Next week Burton travel to Birstall Village now even more determined to leave their mark on the second placed side and move out of the bottom two.